{"id":317664,"date":"2026-06-29T12:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T11:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=317664"},"modified":"2026-06-25T09:20:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T08:20:04","slug":"nonviolent-solutions-are-everywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2026\/06\/nonviolent-solutions-are-everywhere\/","title":{"rendered":"Nonviolent Solutions Are Everywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Campaign Nonviolence Action Days invites people into the existing movement toward a nonviolent, equitable and livable world. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

19 Jun 2026\u00a0<\/em>–\u00a0Imagine a world of nonviolent solutions.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a place where community safety teams de-escalate violence in neighborhoods; where the peace budget funds unarmed peacekeeping around the world; where living wages, affordable healthcare and housing are available to all. It\u2019s a society that chooses restorative justice, mediation and conflict resolution; where everyone learns conflict skills in school. In this world, renewable energy staves off the climate crisis; marine sanctuaries, sustainability and ecosystem restoration are repairing the harms of the past. It\u2019s a society of dignity, respect and healing.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a world already on its way.<\/p>\n

In 2026, our organization decided to dedicate the entire year to collecting and sharing the real life examples of this vision. Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service has worked for 37 years to foster a culture of active nonviolence. Last year during our annual Campaign Nonviolence Action Days<\/a>, we brought millions of people together in 5,630 actions and events to practice nonviolence toward self, others, world and the earth.<\/p>\n

To build on this, we declared 2026: The Year of Nonviolent Solutions<\/a>, engaging people in\u00a0 learning about the hundreds of examples of programs, policies and practices that prevent violence, heal harms and reduce destruction. In particular, we focused on alternatives to systemic and structural violence \u2014 the laws and institutions that embed harmful practices into a society\u2019s way of life.<\/p>\n

Systemic and structural violence is everywhere. In many ways, it defines our culture: spending trillions on weapons while cutting food stamps for children. Lack of affordable healthcare leading to early deaths and illness. Millions of unhoused people. A planet facing ecological collapse. Police brutality. Gun violence. Mass incarceration. Environmental racism. Wars and violent conflicts.<\/p>\n

But if systemic and structural violence is everywhere, so are the people working on the alternatives: renewable energy, living wages, violence prevention teams, prison abolition, demilitarization, peacebuilding, unarmed security, affordable housing and healthcare, restorative justice and so much more. Together and individually, these are examples of systemic and structural nonviolence.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We call them: nonviolent solutions.<\/p>\n

With 365 daily stories, social posts, virtual discussions, webinars and trainings, the Year of Nonviolent Solutions has been supporting people in learning about the hundreds of examples that exist. With action mobilizations throughout the year, people are working together to bring these solutions to decision-makers, both local and national.<\/p>\n

These kinds of nonviolent solutions have already fostered big shifts in our society. Since 2000, two thirds<\/a> of all youth prisons have been closed and the number of incarcerated youth \u2014 while still too high \u2014 has reduced by 75 percent. This is not only due to oppositional movements decrying the abuse of youth prisons and ineffectiveness of juvenile incarceration. The shift was hastened by thousands of local organizers, advocates and families implementing solutions on the ground. Youth diversion programs have worked with practices like restorative justice, teen court, peer mediation, and conflict resolution programs in schools to keep youth out of the prison system, and yet still provide accountability when harm happens.<\/p>\n

Many nonviolent solutions offer a more effective and affordable alternative to the system they replace. For example, violence prevention teams<\/a> have played a large role in the historic decline in homicide rates<\/a> across the United States and cost a fraction of what law enforcement does. But officials (like President Trump) incorrectly ascribe lower crime rates to increased policing, and then make the mistake of defunding<\/a> the solutions. By lifting up nonviolent solutions, we can\u00a0 demonstrate that there are better options, and challenge the old or outdated beliefs that drive the decision to choose destructive policies. For example, if the Trump administration understood that marine reserves<\/a> actually increase fishing stock, instead of opening up our three Marine National Monuments<\/a> to commercial fishing, we might expand our network of protected areas, like Vanuatu, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea<\/a> are doing.<\/p>\n

The Year of Nonviolent Solutions is about connecting these dots between isolated examples and showing that, as Arundhati Roy famously put it, \u201canother world is not only possible, she is already on her way.\u201d<\/p>\n

During Campaign Nonviolence Action Days<\/a>, from Sept. 21 through Oct.\u00a0 2, 2026, we\u2019re inviting people to move into action to \u201creflect, educate and act\u201d on nonviolent solutions. Local groups can select the solutions they\u2019re most excited about, study them, and bring them to the attention of decision-makers. Big organizations can hold mobilizations with their network to advance solutions they\u2019re already working on. Together, thousands of communities will work together to uplift the incredible array of powerful practices, programs and policies.<\/p>\n

Here are the three calls to action:<\/p>\n

Reflect:<\/strong> Hold a vigil, prayer circle, or soulful gathering that reflects on the harm caused by the problem(s) and renews the commitment to building the solution(s).<\/p>\n

Educate: <\/strong>Through teach-ins, film screenings, workshops, discussion groups and other educational events, bring people together to learn about one or more Nonviolent Solutions.<\/p>\n

Act<\/strong>: Take visible action to practice or promote a Nonviolent Solution. This could include mutual aid or community care projects, restorative justice events, climate clean-ups, sit-ins, advocacy meetings, creative demonstrations, or other actions that share solutions with decision-makers and communities alike.<\/p>\n

Everyone can participate in a way that works for them. We want to see people doing a wide range of actions, such as:<\/p>\n